The Park Pavilion: Waterloo Park: Gem of the City: Waterloo Public Library Digital Collections

Waterloo Park: Gem of the City

The Park Pavilion

Panels

Introduction: From Farm Land to Park Land The First Superintendent and the Formation of the Early Park Gardens in the Park The Park Pavilion Picnics in the Park A Little Park Music Swimming in Silver Lake?!Silver Lake for Business and Pleasure Sports!Commemorative Features The Mysterious Cannons Eby Farmstead Zoo Waterloo's First Schoolhouse The Grist Mill Replica Conclusion and Sources

Picnickers enjoyed the use of the Park Pavilion which was located in the middle of the park, facing Silver Lake, where the Victorian Gardens are now located. Charles Moogk, town engineer, started the pavilion construction in 1897 at a cost of $1,721.¹³ The Park Pavilion opened the following year on June 10th, 1898. For the grand opening the pavilion was decorated with bunting, flags and lanterns, and the Waterloo Musical Society Band played.¹⁴ The pavilion replaced the Eby barn which had been previously used for social gatherings.

Dances were also held in the pavilion, but were eventually discontinued because they resulted in “considerable trouble.”¹⁵ In 1946, Chairman of the park board, W.C. Toletzki said the following:

“They not only danced in the pavilion but all over the park…We were deluged with complaints and many parents phoned to protest against the dances. We spent about $100 in repairing the floor but didn’t get anything out of it. Anyway, the floor is badly warped now and is in no condition for dances.”¹⁶

The pavilion was demolished in 1972.